The idea was not obvious until he twisted the withes about his waist; then, when he bent down, the shirt stood up erect above him.
"If you don't mind, sir, we'll have two or three Sikhs go first.
Have them take their boots off and crawl quietly as flat down as they can keep.

I'll follow 'em with this contraption.

They'll be able to see the white shirt dimly against the tunnel, and if they do any shooting they'll aim at that.

Then if the rest of you keep low behind me we've a good chance to rush them before they can do any damage." I never met a commanding officer more free from personal conceit than Goodenough, and as I came to know more of him later on that characteristic stood out increasingly.

He was not so much a man of ideas as one who could recognize them.